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Academic Course Load

The average semester load for full-time students is 15 to 17 semester (or credit) hours. Students must carry at least 12 semester hours to be classified as full time.

Academic overloads during fall and spring semesters (18 or more semester hours for students in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Technology; 19 or more semester hours in all other schools and colleges) need special approval of the dean of the school or college in which a student is matriculated. Tuition for full-time students covers 12 to 17 hours. Credits over 17 carry additional tuition charges.

Summer sessions: Undergraduates must get overload approval for 9 credits or more.

Academic Credit

A semester hour is a unit of academic credit. For courses that meet on a regularly-scheduled semester basis, a semester hour corresponds to one hour a week of lecture or recitation (or two hours of laboratory or studio activity) throughout one semester. For courses that do not meet on a regularly-scheduled semester basis, the guideline is that one semester hour corresponds to 700 minutes of classroom contact.

Academic credit may be earned through traditional course work at Temple University, courses approved for transfer from other institutions, Advanced Placement Tests, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), cooperative work experience, and prior work or life experience. See the Admissions section of the Bulletin and the policy on Non-Traditional Credit.

Academic Residency Requirements

Temple University requires that all undergraduate degree candidates complete 30 hours of the last 45 hours of the degree or program as matriculated students at Temple University. If a matriculated student previously took Temple courses on a non-matriculated basis, those courses are counted towards this requirement. See the policy on Transfer Credits.

To graduate with Honors or to be a President's Scholar, a student must complete a minimum of the last 60 semester hours of the program matriculated at Temple. Students who are granted pre-approval by their deans to take courses elsewhere, up to a full semester’s work, will qualify for these distinctions if they have completed 60 hours at Temple University towards their degrees. See Honors.

Students should consult their school or college for additional academic residency requirements.

Academic Warning, Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement

A matriculated undergraduate student in the University is in Academic Good Standing if he/she has not been dismissed.

Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Unsatisfactory Academic Performance is defined as having a semester or cumulative grade-point average below 2.0 (C) resulting in grade point deficiencies. Excessive accumulation of grade point deficiencies can result in dismissal. The Office of Academic Records notifies students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory.

A student is placed on Academic Warning under the following conditions:

if the semester grade point average (GPA) is below 2.0, though the cumulative GPA may be at 2.0 or above

or

if prior to the accumulation of 30 credits, the cumulative grade point average is below 2.0

A student on Academic Warning cannot register for courses online and must meet with an advisor to register. Advisors will help in planning a schedule of courses selected to assist the student in achieving acceptable, cumulative GPAs.

The University issues academic warning based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Academic Warning is not assessed as a result of grades earned during summer sessions.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on Academic Probation when the cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 after having accumulated 30 or more credits.

A student on Academic Probation cannot register for courses online and must meet with an advisor to register. Advisors will help in planning a schedule of courses selected to assist the student in maintaining an acceptable cumulative GPA.

The University issues academic probation based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Academic Probation is not assessed as a result of grades earned during summer sessions.

Students not in Academic Good Standing: Dismissal and Conditional Status

Dismissal

The academic action of Dismissal is assessed when a probationary student's grade point deficiency reaches the University-defined maximum. These grade point deficiency requirements are standard across all schools and colleges.

Only students on Academic Probation are subject to Dismissal.

No probationary student will be dismissed who has earned at least a 2.0 semester GPA in the most recent semester.

A dismissed student is not in Academic Good Standing.

The University dismisses probationary students based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Students are not dismissed based on grades earned during summer sessions.

A baccalaureate degree candidate on probation is automatically dismissed from degree candidacy if:

Table 1

Cumulative Credits are:

Grade Point Deficiency:

31 - 60

15 or more

61 - 90

10 or more

91 - 107

5 or more

108 and above

3 or more

Note:

"Cumulative Credits" are determined for the purposes of this policy by counting credits in all courses graded "A" through "F" and ignoring credits in courses with incomplete grades ("I"), Withdrawals ("W", "WE" or "WS"), Registered ("R"), or Audit ("AU") and credits completed in courses graded Credit/No Credit ("CR/NC") or Pass ("P"). Credits for repeated courses are calculated according to the course repeat policy. "Cumulative Credits" may differ from credits counted toward the degree, since the latter excludes courses the student does not pass.

Credits transferred to Temple University will be counted as "cumulative credits" in order to establish the level of progress towards a degree.

Grade point deficiencies, if any, accrue only from courses taken at Temple University.

Notification

Students can check their academic status via OWLnet. Students placed on Academic Warning or Probation or who have been Dismissed, are notified by e-mail that their academic standing has been assessed and are directed to OWLnet for specific information.

Conditional Status for Dismissed Students

A student dismissed from baccalaureate degree candidacy for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance may register for Temple courses as a non-degree Conditional Status student, with the following conditions:

A non-degree conditional status student is not in Academic Good Standing and is not eligible for financial aid or University housing.

The advising office of the Temple school, college, or academic unit from
which the student was dismissed registers the student during the
enrollment period reserved for non-matriculating students.

The courses taken must be suitable for demonstrating the student’s ability
to succeed at Temple University.

The student may enroll for up to 13 credits for a fall or spring semester or
up to 7 credits for a summer session, for a total of up to 40 credits to be
completed within two calendar years from the dismissal date.

Students will be Summarily Dismissed if they are unable to achieve a 2.0
GPA after having completed 40 semester hours or after a period of two
calendar years from the dismissal date, whichever occurs first. Summarily
Dismissed students will not be eligible for Readmission for a period of 5
years from the end of their last semester of enrollment.

A student may be on Conditional Status only once during his or her
undergraduate career.

Reinstatement

Students who complete course work on Conditional Status may apply for reinstatement to
degree candidacy to the school or college from which they were dismissed when they
have achieved a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Students will be accorded only one opportunity for reinstatement.

Readmission

A dismissed student, whether he or she has taken courses on Conditional Status or not,
may apply for readmission after five years from the date of last enrollment at Temple
University. Application for readmission to degree candidacy may be made to any
Temple school or college. Readmitted students will be treated as transfer students in that
they will receive credit for courses passed at Temple or elsewhere, when those course
credits meet the requirements for courses applicable to graduation stated in the
Undergraduate Bulletin:

"In admitting transfer or returning students, the University will, when possible,
allow credit for courses taken ten or more years prior to the date of admission or
readmission.

However, academic units may choose not to accept courses regardless of age for
credit in the major. Courses of a technical nature or courses in a particularly
dynamic field may not be accepted for credit.

Final determination of the acceptability of such courses is the responsibility of
academic units and generally occurs after the student has matriculated or been
readmitted."

Students will re-enter the University with no cumulative grade-point average. This
readmission policy, with its forgiveness provision, will go into effect for fall 2009 for
students dismissed from fall 2003 on.

Calculating Grade Point Deficiencies

Grade point deficiencies are the number of grade points below the required minimum for
a "C" (2.0) GPA.

Example 1: Student with minimum satisfactory academic performance

If a student has completed 30 cumulative credits at an average of a "C" (2.0) grade level,
the student will have 60 grade points:

30 cumulative credits X 2.0 = 60 grade points.

Example 2: Student on academic probation

If the student has complete 30 cumulative credits at an average of a "C-" (1.67), the
student will have 50.1 grade points, which is 9.9 points below the required total.

This grade point deficiency is less than the university limit of 15 (see Table 1) and
academic probation is noted on the student's record.

Required grade point total is 30 X 2.0 = 60.0 grade points

30 cumulative credits X 1.67 = 50.1 grade points

Grade point deficiency is = 9.9 grade points

Example 3: Dismissed student

If the student has 61 cumulative credits at an average grade of a "C-" (1.67), the student
will have 101.9 grade points, which is 20.1 points below the required total.

This grade point deficiency is greater than the university limit of 10 (see Table 1) and the
probationary student is dismissed.

Required grade point total is 61 x 2.0 = 122.0 grade points

61 cumulative credits X 1.67 = 101.9 grade points

Grade point deficiency is = 20.1 grade points

Eliminating Grade Point Deficiencies

Students can remove grade point deficiencies by earning C+ grades or better in
subsequent courses. (See Appendix 1: "Removing Grade Point Deficiencies")

Associate Degree Candidates

Academic Warning

The rules and procedures related to Academic Warning for baccalaureate degree students
apply also to associate degree candidates. However, students are issued Academic
Warning when the semester GPA is below 2.0 or when the cumulative grade point
average is below 2.0 and the student has earned fewer than 20 cumulative credits.

Academic Probation

The rules and procedures related to Academic Probation for baccalaureate degree
students apply also to associate degree candidates. However, students are issued
Probation when the cumulative GPA is below 2.0 and the student has earned 20 or more
cumulative credits.

Associate Degree Dismissal and Reinstatement Policy

An associate degree candidate will not be dismissed from degree candidacy for
unsatisfactory academic performance if he/she has acquired fewer than 21 cumulative
semester hours of credits.

All other rules related to Dismissal and Reinstatement for baccalaureate degree students
also apply to associate degree students.

Conditional Status for Associate Degree Students
Provisions for Conditional Status are the same for associate degree students as for
baccalaureate degree students. However, students will be Summarily Dismissed if they
are unable to achieve a 2.0 GPA after having completed 20 semester hours or after a
period of one calendar year from the dismissal date, whichever occurs first.

Reinstatement and Readmission of Associate Degree Students

The rules are the same for associate degree and baccalaureate degree students.

Table 2

Cumulative Credits* are:

Grade Point Deficiency:

21 - 30

12 or more

31 - 50

6 or more

51 and above

3 or more

Note:

"Cumulative Credits" are determined for the purposes of this policy by counting
credits in all courses graded "A" through "F" and ignoring credits in courses with
incomplete grades ("I"), Withdrawals ("W", "WE" or "WS"), Registered ("R"), or
Audit ("AU") and credits completed in courses graded Credit/No Credit
("CR/NC") or Pass ("P"). Credits for repeated courses are calculated according to
the course repeat policy. "Cumulative Credits" may differ from credits counted
toward the degree, since the latter excludes courses the student does not pass.

Credits transferred to Temple University will be counted as "cumulative credits"
in order to establish the level of progress towards a degree.

Grade point deficiencies, if any, accrue only from courses taken at Temple
University.

Appendix I. Eliminating Grade Point Deficiencies

This chart illustrates how specific grades/credits remove grade point deficiencies.

Grade

Grade-Point Equivalent

Multiplied
by
X

Course
Credits

Equals
=

Grade Points Acquired

Minimum Grade Points for a 2.0 (C)

Grade Point Deficiencies Removed

A

4.00

X

1

=

4

2

2

4.00

X

2

=

8

4

4

4.00

X

3

=

12

6

6

4.00

X

4

=

16

8

8

A-

3.67

X

1

=

3.67

2

1.67

3.67

X

2

=

7.34

4

3.34

3.67

X

3

=

11.01

6

5.01

3.67

X

4

=

14.68

8

6.68

B+

3.33

X

1

=

3.33

2

1.33

3.33

X

2

=

6.66

4

2.66

3.33

X

3

=

9.99

6

3.99

3.33

X

4

=

13.32

8

5.32

B

3.00

X

1

=

3

2

1

3.00

X

2

=

6

4

2

3.00

X

3

=

9

6

3

3.00

X

4

=

12

8

4

B-

2.67

X

1

=

2.67

2

0.67

2.67

X

2

=

5.34

4

1.34

2.67

X

3

=

8.01

6

2.01

2.67

X

4

=

10.68

8

2.68

C+

2.33

X

1

=

2.33

2

0.33

2.33

X

2

=

4.66

4

0.66

2.33

X

3

=

6.99

6

0.99

2.33

X

4

=

9.32

8

1.32

NOTE:

As a quick reference, keep in mind that every credit earned with a grade of B removes one grade-point deficiency.

Dates of official enactment and amendments:

Adopted by the President on June 12, 2003.

Revised by the President on September 7, 2006, to amend the provisions regarding eligibility for institutional financial aid and university housing, effective immediately.

Revised by the President on September 26, 2007, to amend the requirements for
Academic Good Standing and Dismissal, effective immediately.

History:

This policy supercedes all policies and procedures related to academic warning, dismissal and reinstatement for undergraduates, and specifically Probation and Dismissal posted in the Academic Policy section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.